Post by sandymarek on Mar 17, 2012 20:40:17 GMT -4
Part 405
Just then hearing what appears to be some men talking loudly taking place from the back of the Wards’ House the boys cautiously move towards it to see what it’s all about.
Listening to it they hear, “Could we be of some assist Vic?” from one man.
“Not unless you want to assist us with why we’re here,” comes from the second man.
“And what reason would that be?” the first voice asks.
“Step aside,” the second voice says, “You know why we’re here. We want to see your boss, Mr. White. Get him!”
“We’re sorry,” the first voice replies, “But I’m afraid he’s not seeing any visitors tonight. I suggest you all go home.”
As the boys reach the back entrance, “It’s coming from inside here,” Todd announces.
“We hear it,” Neil mentions.
“We don’t care” comes from a third voice “What time of the night it is” raising his voice “Now we want to see your boss and WE WANT TO SEE HIM RIGHT NOW!”
Listening and glancing about “Maybe” Billy suggests “If we climb up here” referring to the railing of the porch “We could get a better idea of what is going on.”
“Let’s,” Todd insists as he, Neil and Billy reach up and carefully climb the top of the railing and take a peek inside the window overseeing them.
Without making a sound they continue to listen and observe what is taking place inside and upon looking in they catch sight of 2 men in front of a door with their arms folded in front of them facing them and 2 men standing directly across from them to which they hear “Ben, Vic, please” the first voice says “Don’t make it more difficult on yourselves. It’s late, why don’t you all go home and get a goodnight sleep?” who happens to be a man who has dark hair, curly and is somewhat of a solid build.
“We don’t want a goodnight sleep,” the second voice replies, “We want to see your boss and we’re not going anywhere until we do!”
Ben the 3rd voice says, “Look!” to who happens to be a man in his middle 40’s, brownish hair and slightly shorter than the two men, “We’ve worked for five weeks and he’s never paid us. We need that money and we’re not going anywhere until we do.”
“We’re not going home” the man Vic, which happens to be the man in the middle who happens to be middle aged and has salt-pepper hair and is about 2 inches shorter than the men gathered replies “We’ve come here” grabbing hold of Curly by the collar of his shirt “To see Mr. White. He owes us 200 big ones and we are not leaving here until we’ve seen him. Now do as we said” tightening his grip on the shirt “And get out of our way” quickly yanking at him and moving him out of the way.
As the man to Curly’s left moves in to reach for Vic, Ben jumps in and is about to grab for him which in turn is grabbed by the 2nd man on the other side of that one and as he quickly swings his arm out of his grasp he begins punching both of them.
“Hey look,” Neil announces, “A fight is breaking out.”
“Kyle, Gene,” Billy quietly calls out “Come and see the fight breaking out.”
Quickly coming to join them they climb up and look on and watch as the fight continues. Peering in they see one man fighting two men, one man rolling around with another and the one in the middle grabbing hold of the door knob with another on the ground inches away.
“What’s going on?” Gene asks, “Could you tell?”
“Not really,” Todd answers.
“It seems,” Billy says, “They are fighting over money being owed that the other doesn’t want to give to them.”
Looking on they see the fight continuing and watch as a man who has blondish color hair parted on the side asking, “What’s going on out here?” as the door is opened and is standing before Vic.
“We came for our money,” Vic answers.
“Oh?” Mr. White says, “What money would that be?”
“Don’t play smart with us,” Vic replies, “You know exactly what it is.”
“I’m afraid I am at a lost here,” Mr. White says, “Maybe you could refresh my memory.”
“Two-hundred,” Vic tells him, “You kept saying you will pay us and never did. Now we want that money and we are not leaving here until we get it.”
“Okay, okay” Mr. White says “Let me get it for you” keeping his full attention on Vic with the palms of his hands showing and carefully moving backwards “There’s no need to be getting hostile over this.”
“Then get us what we asked for,” Vic replies, “What you owe us and we will leave here.”
Still carefully backing up Mr. White reaches into a top drawer of a desk and as he produces a gun he quickly aims it at Vic, “Now Vic,” he says, “I think you better think again. You better get out of here while you still can. Our business with you has come to an end. We don’t want you back here again. That goes for your cohorts as well, take them with you.”
“I am not going anywhere,” Vic reminds him and quickly reaches for the gun.
As he is grabbing for the gun Mr. White keeps his full hold onto it and as Vic grasps the gun handle the two of them fall to the floor with the gun rolling out of their hands as Vic tries to grab for it Mr. White being a little faster snatches it and as Vic makes another attempt to grab for it they both struggle with it resulting in a shot discharging from it in mid air.
“What was that?” Billy asks.
“Sounds like a shot,” Gene answers, “Went off.”
“It did,” Todd says, “That man has a gun,” looking on and catching sight of the gun in Mr. White’s hands.
As they continue watching the altercation between the two men another sound catches their attention and are startled and jump at the sound of the two men who continue fighting and not paying attention to what they are moving past continue tossing things they see around them at the other and as they come out of the door one of them runs the other into a stack of barrels next to the side of the building.
From across the street awakening from the sound of the barrels falling down, “What’s going on?” Victoria asks and upon seeing Terry still working on the window, “Terry, you’re still working on that?”
“I got it out,” Terry informs her, “I am now working on the window.”
“What’s all that noise?” Dean asks.
“A fight,” Terry replies, “Across the street.”
“We need to get out of here,” Kyle mentions.
Then as the second shot goes off it shoots Vic in the chest and as he collapses he bounces off a chair to his left and rolls onto the floor onto his stomach.
Doing a double-take “He shot him” Neil says “He shot that man.”
As Mr. White is still holding the gun he is frozen in his tracks as he looks down at the man lying in a pool of blood.
“I think he’s killed him,” Todd says.
“We better make tracks,” Kyle suggests, “Billy, Gene get going quickly!”
And with that Gene followed by Kyle jump down off the railing.
“Sorry, Mr. White,” Curly informs him, “But he got past us.”
“Dispose of him,” Mr. White orders, “Quickly! Take him out the back way.”
As one of the men assist Curly they both pick up the body of Vic and start heading for the back door.
“Mr. White,” another man asks, “What about this one?” referring to the third man that was with them.
“Is he?” Mr. White asks.
“No,” the man answers, “He’s alive,” feeling the side of his neck for a pulse.
“Put him with the others,” Mr. White answers.
While two of his men do as told the other boys Billy and Todd jump down and start to run. Just then as the other two men come out of the building with the dead body of Vic; Neil, who is last loses his footing and falls backwards dropping his gun behind him, “Hey Mr. White,” Curly calls out, “Look!”
Stopping in his tracks “Neil,” Billy then says, “Come on,” and as he is about to get on his feet, “What have we here?” he hears, “I’ll take that” and watches as he snatches it up.
Glancing up at the voice they catch sight of the end of a rifle looking down at them, “Ma,” they hear, “Hey Ma, look what we have here, there’s two of them.”
Mr. White coming out the door asks, “What?” of Curly.
“What do you want us to do with that one?” Curly inquires, referring to Ben, who is now on the ground unconscious.
Calling to two men behind him “Glassman,” Mr. White says, “You and Forrest take him and place him downstairs with the others. Quickly! Quickly!” snapping his fingers.
Doing as instructed Glassman and Forrest move towards the unconscious man and lifting him up they carry him back inside.
As Gene and Kyle are running, “Not so fast,” they first hear a voice followed by a man standing there holding a rifle on them both resulting in them stopping in their tracks, “Ma,” the voice calls out, “I have two here.”
“Two and two make four” Ma states “And one makes five” holding a rifle on Todd who also has stopped frozen in his tracks as he looks at Ma with the gun aimed at him.
“You,” glancing over at Kyle, “Drop it,” the woman tells him and as he is staring at the woman and pondering his thoughts, “Do as she says,” comes from Lance holding the gun on him; Kyle quickly does as told and drops the rifle onto the ground.
“You,” Ames tells Neil, “On your feet,” who quickly complies.
“Now,” she says, “The two of you back up and move alongside of these two,” glancing over at Todd, “And you,” she tells him, “Do the same.”
Quickly following their orders, Kyle, Gene and Todd move alongside of Neil and Billy standing there.
“Put your hands up in the air” Ma barks at them “Where I could see them” to which they immediately comply “And don’t move.”
With the guns kept aimed at them from Ames and Lance on each side Ma moves up from in front of them and says, “What do we have here?” then glancing over at Mr. White who is coming over to her, “Good evening Mr. White,” she says.
“Good evening Belle,” he acknowledges, “Who are they?”
“Not sure yet,” she says, “But they’ve been snooping and spying on you, isn’t that right young man?” she asks looking over at Kyle.
As he doesn’t speak, “I asked you a question young man,” she says, “What were you doing here?”
Swallowing hard, “Nothing,” he answers, “We just came down this way for a walk and we heard the noise coming from here, and just wanted to see what it was all about.”
“You were snooping young man,” she barks, “Prying into something that is none of your affair.”
“Mr. White,” one of his men says, “They saw everything.”
“Ma,” Lance says, “Look at what they have here,” as he goes to each one of them he quickly snatches the guns away from Gene, Todd and Billy as well as the ammunition they each have on them.
As Lance walks in front of the boys Kyle and Gene upon taking a second look at him both gawk and as they make eye contact they both exchange similar thoughts.
“Where would boys such as you,” Ma asks, “Get things like this?” as they don’t answer, “I asked you a question boys, where would you be getting things like this? Did your fathers give them to you?”
Thinking and quickly answering, “No,” Billy being the first to respond replies.
“Please Ma’am” Gene cries “We didn’t mean no harm.”
“We won’t tell anyone,” Billy says, “What we saw.”
“And you expect me to believe that?” she asks, “The moment you go out of here, you’ll blab away.”
“No, we won’t,” Neil says.
“I asked you again boys,” Ma says, “What are you doing out this way?” as they remain silent, “Aren’t you somebody’s children?”
Swallowing hard, “We are,” Gene answers.
From the cellar’s missionary, “Hey look,” Robert calls out.
“What is it?” Victoria asks.
“A couple of boys,” Robert answers.
“Let me see,” Victoria says, and as she strains herself to get a better look, “Could one of you lift me up a bit?”
“Sure,” comes from both Dean and Robert nearest the window.
As she looks on, “Oh my god,” she calls out, “Terry, could you get this window opened?”
As he continues exerting all his strength on it “Just about,” Terry replies.
“Hurry, hurry,” she tells him.
“You know them,” Dean asks.
“One of them is my son,” she announces and watches as Kyle and Gene are both standing there with Lance and Ma Belle holding a gun on them.
As both Jarrod and Nick are coming down the street of Fremont they overhear some of the noise coming from down Mission.
“Nick,” Jarrod calls out, “Listen!”
“I hear it,” Nick replies, “Come on!” and quickly bringing their horses to a complete stop they dismount and split up around the building.
“Then,” Ma says looking directly at him, “I suggest you start flapping your gums and tell us what you’re doing out this way? You didn’t just come down here for a walk,” she notes, “You had something in mind if you had these guns with you.”
Being the first to respond to Ma’s question, “We came looking for someone,” Todd mentions.
“Oh?” Ma asks.
Over near the side of the missionary between the building and a bush Heath is crouched down and carefully sizing up the situation. Slowly glancing to his left, he catches sight of Mr. White, as well as another man standing a couple feet away from Ma Belle, to his right he sees Lance and Ames both with rifles drawn and surrounding the five boys who have their hands in the air and then looking to his far left he notices a body of a man being draped over the side of a horse, so from what he could see thus far there were six men and one woman to contend with.
Thinking of his best course of action with his left arm in a sling he takes the gun he has in his right hand and places it in his left, he then removes his little brown pouch he has in his left shirt pocket followed by a small rock he has inside it.
As he is getting a good grip on it he doesn’t see or hear anything other than the men and the woman keeping their guns aimed at the boys to which are all standing nervously side by side. He also doesn’t notice the hand that is moving up behind him.
Part 406
Just then, the hand very slowly and very carefully is placed over his mouth and before he could react he hears, “Sh!” and then as he quickly shifts his gaze over at who the hand belongs to he finds that it belongs to Nick who is now right alongside of him. As they both make contact Nick quickly removes his hand and Heath says in a very low voice, “Nick!”
“I see it,” Nick replies softly.
“Nick,” Heath then says.
“What?” Nick asks.
“Look at that one there,” Heath points to the one on the other side of Gene.
Looking on with a slight tilt of his head “What about him” Nick asks.
“That’s one of the ones that took Mother,” Heath mentions.
Taking a better look, “I believe you’re right,” Nick answers.
“That means,” Heath says, “She must be here someplace.”
Coming down Mission from the other direction “You hear that?” Bill asks.
“Come on,” Ray commands and with that they quickly move towards the sound they hear.
Jarrod coming around the other side of the Missionary being shielded by a bush stops and crouches just behind it and upon eying the situation could see the four men and one woman surrounding the five boys. Looking to his left he could also see a man being placed over the side of a horse by two men.
As Ma Belle continues moving back-n-forth in front of the boys, Todd being the first to speak says, “We came looking for his mother,” pointing to Gene.
Kyle blurts out, “You idiot,” quietly to Todd standing on the other side of him.
Glancing about and then studying the upper side of the building, “I’m,” Nick informs Heath, “Going up top and see what I could do from there.”
“Go ahead,” Heath tells him.
Nick then says, “Be ready for anything.”
“I am,” Heath announces as he reaches in the bottom of his pant leg and pulls out his knife while at the same time watching Nick who is making his move and starts climbing the side of the building.
Reaching the Parker House, Bill, Ray and Jim Jr. dismount and slowly proceed on foot towards the back alley way following the sound of the voices.
As they get in closer, “My god,” Ray says.
“Let’s not go losing our heads,” Jim Jr. recommends.
Studying the situation and pondering their best course of action “Stay here” Bill says as he glances at the rooftop of the Wards’ House.
“Where you going?” Jim Jr asks.
“Keep a watch on them” Bill quietly tells him “I’m going to try to get up there, when I do be ready,” and as Jim Jr nods Bill begins moving towards a lower section of the rooftop and climbs up.
Just then without warning as each of them from their carefully hidden spots are preparing to make their move they watch and listen as Ma asks “Is that right”
glancing over at Gene “You came here looking for your mother?”
“Yes Ma’am,” Gene answers.
Ma asks “And were you planning on using these,” referring to the confiscated weapons.
“Only for protection,” Neil swallowing hard says.
“Protection,” Ma asks, “Against what?” glancing over at Neil, “Us?”
Shaking his head, “No,” Neil answers.
“And I was born yesterday,” she snickers, “What I think you boys need is a lesson to be taught not to ever come sneaking down this way again.”
“I quite agree,” Mr. White answers.
“What you think Mr. White,” Ma then asks of Mr. White “Do you think we should show them what happens when they try prying into others affairs that don’t concern them?”
“Most definitely,” Mr. White states.
“Do you want the honors,” Belle asks.
“I think that will be best,” he says as he pulls a knife from out of his belt, “We’ll do this one at a time as quickly and painlessly as possible,” each of the boys’ eyes widen in horror as they stare at the blade being pulled out of its sheath, “This will also cause less attention as well.”
“Alright,” as she walks back and forth “Which one should we do first” she asks as she holds the rifle on them and goes from one to the other with each one standing there nervously, not knowing what to do.
“You’re going to kill us?” Billy asks.
Being the first to react, “Please, Ma’am,” Todd pleads, “Let us go.”
“Let you go?” Ma says, “You’re not going anywhere,” she snaps at Todd.
“You’re a lady,” Neil brings up.
“That’s right young man,” Ma tells him.
“I thought ladies,” Neil says, “Didn’t do things like that. You’re supposed to be a mother.”
“I am a mother sonny,” Ma informs him.
“That’s right boy” with a wicked drooling-laugh and grin “She’s our Ma” Ames says to Neil.
“How is going to kill us,” Billy asks, “Going to teach us a lesson?”
Sniffling “We won’t tell anyone,” Todd mumbles.
“That’s right” Ma then says “And you should’ve thought of that before coming down here.”
Holding the hilt in his right hand, “You,” pointing to Todd, Mr. White barks, “Come here.”
“Me?” Todd pointing to himself asks.
“Yes you,” Ma says, “Now get moving.”
From atop the roof as Nick is now into position from atop of the Missionary’s rooftop and glancing about makes eye contact with Bill who is doing the same thing atop of the Wards’ House roof. After making contact and nodding to the other they catch sight of the others down below on each side of the buildings.
Crying and starting to shudder Todd yells, “No!” resisting, “Please, no!”
“Go to him” Ma barks.
Not budging “Please,” Todd says.
Holding the rifle, “NOW!” Ma tells Todd, “If you don’t, we’ll start shooting” holding it on Gene, “Beginning with this one.”
Still sniffling and sobbing uncontrollably Todd slowly moves towards Mr. White.
“I got it,” Terry announces as he pops the window outward.
“Hurry,” Victoria orders, “Hurry,” and as Robert and Dean lift Victoria up she begins crawling through the opened window and carefully moves for the rifle she sees on the ground and quickly snatches it up. Aiming it at Belle she commands, “Don’t move!”
Nick quickly joins in at the same time barking “Heath, NOW!” and as Heath brings up his rifle he immediately takes aims and shoots Mr. White in the chest followed by Nick who takes out the man right behind him.
As the bullet makes contact and he is releasing the knife from his grasp, “Gene,” Nick commands with Ray barking simultaneously “Billy, Todd, get down!” and with out hesitation doing as told each of the boys quickly drop to the dirt.
“Get away from my son,” Victoria hisses to Belle.
Lifting his head up, “Mother,” Gene blurts out and watches as Belle immediately spins around and as she is about to face her foe, “Well now,” she says with her rifle aimed, “What do we have here,” she is quickly met by a bullet from Victoria’s gun.
As Jarrod and Bill both enter the conflict Jarrod takes out Lance with Bill aiming at Ames. Joining in, Ray shoots at one of the two men who come emerging from behind the Wards’ Building’s back entrance, while Jim Jr. rams the rifle butt into the second man coming out.
In between Robert, Ferdinand, Dean, Paul, Vernon and Terry each work together in helping the other climb out of the cellar and onto the open road with Terry being the last to be pulled up and out.
As the fight continues more men come pouring out of The Parker House Saloon as well as the Wards’ House who happen to be nearby and join in.
As one man, shouldering a rifle emerges from the cover of the back entrance of the Parkers’ House Saloon, “Look out,” Robert yells to Victoria and quickly leaps up and onto her blocking her from the man who is about to take aim at her.
Jim Jr. who just appears aims and lets the man have one in the head.
Upon shielding Mrs. Barkley, they didn’t notice the bullet making contact with his back and as he asks of her, “You alright?” she answers, “Yes, I’m fine, thank you,” who in turn asks, “Are you?”
As he is now feeling the impact of it penetrating “I’m not sure” and without saying another word sputters once and then drops to the ground.
“Robert,” she calls out, “Robert,” glancing about, “Someone help him.”
Looking at the still man and checking his heart “Aunt Victoria” Jim Jr says “There isn’t much more we could do for him.”
“He’s dead?” she asks with tears forming. Nodding his head, “Afraid so,” Jim Jr answers.
“Oh, my god,” sniffling, “Oh Robert,” she cries.
Just then as slugs from various guns begin hitting the ground “We need to get you away from here” Jim tells her. Meanwhile the boys who are also lying flat are nervously trembling with their hands over their heads as flying dirt comes their way.
Kyle tells them, “We need to get to safety. Follow me, but stay low, quickly!” and upon staying very low to the ground they follow Kyle who quickly grabs hold of one of the rifles he sees on the ground and leads them all behind the safety of the Parker’s House.
As the fighting resumes, each one of them watching it continue, breathe in a sigh of relief as they lean against the side of the building with Todd being the only one who is still sobbing uncontrollably.
Placing his hand on his shoulder “It’s alright Todd” Billy compassionately tells him.
Catching sight of more men emerging from two directions, Dean grabbing one of the guns he sees on the ground snaps a shot off at the first man directly ahead of him; who goes down with his hands over his face, shrieking and thrashing.
Next to enter the conflict, the blast of Heath’s rifle, followed by Bill and then Ray simultaneously aim and shoot at three men coming out of the building, who are firing as they run.
Jim, who is trying to lead Victoria to safety between the Parker House and Missionary, catches sight of one man who is still firing. Just then as something rips through his left shoulder, he staggers and drops to his knees. Jarrod who suddenly appears; leans over and keeps both him and Victoria shielded as he aims at the charging man.
Watching as the man stumbles and falls, Victoria calls out to Jim who in turn replies, “Aunt Victoria,” and Jarrod insisting, “Let’s get you out of here,” as he is escorting them both to safety behind the Missionary.
As Victoria is coming towards them, “Mother,” Gene cries out.
“Oh, Gene,” Victoria replies as she quickly sweeps him into her arms and gives him a tight embrace.
Sniffling and clinging onto her “I was so scared,” Gene tells her.
“Oh Gene” she says “It’s alright now. You’re safe” she then asks “Gene; could I ask what are you doing here?”
“I came here looking for you,” Gene explains, “I was so scared for you.”
“It’s alright now” Victoria says “And we’ll talk more in a little bit” and then turning to Jim Jr “Jim what about you, are you alright?” she wanted to know noticing the blood oozing from his shoulder.
“You’re bleeding,” Gene mentions.
“I’m alright,” Jim assures her as the conflict continues and Jarrod says, “Stay here,” as he quickly goes back out to assist in the fight.
“Todd” Victoria calls out “Come here” and as he quickly goes to her he continues crying “They were going to kill me” he keeps repeating as she is holding him in her arms saying “It’s all over with, shh, you’re safe Todd, no one’s going to hurt you” as she continues soothing him “Sh” she keeps repeating “No one’s going to hurt you, it’s alright, you’re safe” while embracing him tightly and rocking him back-n-forth.
Once he begins to calm down and relax Victoria calls to Neil who in turn goes to her and taking him into her arms she begins soothing him followed by Billy. Kyle meanwhile, continues keeping an eye on the situation while the fighting goes on.
From inside the Parker House Saloon
“What was that?” Jack asks of one of the men who are over near the bar.
“A fight broke out,” First man informs him.
As it continues, Dean, Vernon, Ferdinand, Paul and Terry each help as they pick up the guns they catch sight of on the ground and as the men continue to come out and charge at them, they are each met with a similar fate as bullets penetrate their bodies resulting in them landing on their stomachs.
Jarrod and Heath in turn follow suit and take on two more men that come out from the Wards’ House each one who also is met by various slugs that penetrate their bodies.
As two more men bring their guns up, they come to find out they wind up in a vicious cross fire when Nick and Bill suddenly quickly pierce their bodies from bullets from their rifles and as they drop to the ground they manage to gasp and wheeze in one last attempt before their bodies turn still completely.
After reaching Pacific Avenue and managing to borrow a pair of horses Oscar and Austin reach the corner of Montgomery and Market to where they hear the sound of gunshots, “Austin,” Oscar announces, “You hear that?”
“I do” Austin replies “Come on,” and picking up speed head down Market.
As one more man is aiming his gun at Terry, “Terry, watch out,” Victoria calls out and as he is about to turn both Ray and Kyle, quickly and carefully take aim and manage to let out one shot each which happens to find its way into the charging man’s chest who drops his gun and then collapses to the ground.
Just then the firing seems to have suddenly come to a stop.
“Is that it?” Ray wanted to know.
“Think so,” Jarrod replies.
Calling out, “Mother,” Jarrod looks over to the Missionary and watches as she emerges, “Is it all over with?” she wanted to know.
Nodding his head, “Pretty much,” Jarrod informs her as he points to the bodies lying on the ground.
Part 407
As she quickly comes over to him he quickly takes her into his arms followed by Nick and then Heath who each take turns hugging and kissing her who in turn reciprocates.
“Billy,” Ray calls out who in turn goes quickly into his father’s arms, “Pa,” happily seeing him, “Oh Pa,” Billy continues, “They were about to kill us,” as he is still sniffling and trembling slightly.
“Yes, I know,” Ray then asks, “Could you tell me what happened here?”
“Don’t know all of it,” Billy answers, “We heard the noise and came down this way and as we started to look we heard yelling about money being owed, then they started fighting and then after that man there,” pointing to Mr. White now dead on the ground, “Shot the man there,” referring to the dead body over the side of the horse, “We started running and the next we knew we were being surrounded and then they were going to kill us,” still shaking, “All we came down this way for was to help Gene find his mother.”
“I know,” Ray answers.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” Billy informs him.
“It’s alright Billy,” Ray tells him, “It’s all over with and everything is going to be alright.”
“I know you’re upset with me,” Billy mentions.
“I am,” Ray mentions, “But I’m more relieved that you’re alright. We’ll go into it more at the house. Right now, it’s too late to go into anything” then glancing over at the other boys, “How you boys doing?”
As they are each beginning to calm down, “Much better now,” Todd mentions.
Placing his hand on his shoulder “Kyle” Heath says “You did well” staring at the rifle in his hand.
“Thank you,” Kyle replies.
“How is everyone?” Bill asks concerned.
“We’re all alive,” Jim Jr announces.
Turning to Jim Jr, “Jim,” Jarrod then asks, “How bad are you hit?”
“I’ll live,” Jim Jr mentions, “It’s nothing more than a,” glancing over at Heath, “Scratch,” as he answers.
Taking a closer look at it “It’s more than a scratch Jim” Jarrod states.
“We do need to get you to see a doctor,” Victoria informs him.
“And we will,” Jarrod says.
Just then hearing, “Mrs. Barkley,” she turns to see Terry, followed by Dean, Ferdinand, Paul and Vernon standing there.
“How you fellas doing?” she wanted to know.
“Much better now,” Paul answers, “Thanks to you.”
“No,” she says, “Thanks to Terry.”
“I can’t believe” Vernon replies “We are now finally free, at least for the moment.”
“Sorry about Robert,” Dean goes on to say.
Nodding her head with tears in her eyes, “So am I,” Victoria replies, “He didn’t deserve this,” as she looks down at his body lying there.
“Mother,” Jarrod asks, “You alright?”
“Nodding her head, “I am,” Victoria assures him, “Or should I say I will be.”
As she observes him glancing at the men gathered around her, “I know we all have a lot of questions to ask,” she brings up.
“That’s an understatement,” he quips.
“How about if we wait until we’re all safely back at the house” she urges “I want to get the boys home?”
“Agreed,” Jarrod then says as he begins really taking a hard look at the scene before them with cousin Jim standing beside him with a bullet in his shoulder, all the dead bodies scattered, the boys caught in the middle of what just took place and his mother who they came to find is now freed after being held hostage for the past four days, “Besides, we still have a lot of work left to do.”
“Yes, we do,” Victoria overhearing remarks.
“Pa,” Billy says.
“Yes Billy?” Ray replies.
“Coming down this way,” Billy mentions, “We saw men sleeping on the floor in the cellar of one of the nearby establishments we went past.”
“There’s a lot of that Billy,” Ray says.
“Kyle mentioned,” Billy brings up, “Something about crimping and turning the men over to ships for money.”
“That is what they do with them,” Ray mentions, “When they are captured.”
“Isn’t there something we could do?” Billy asks.
“We are working on it Billy,” Ray answers, “That is what Mr. Barkley and his family came here to do.”
As Victoria is looking down at the rest of the dead bodies scattered, “They’re not all accounted for.”
“What do you mean?” Jarrod asks.
“There’s one missing,” Victoria says, “There were four who was responsible for holding me, there should be one more of them.”
Scanning the area, “I wonder where he’s hiding,” Jim Jr says.
“Mother,” Jarrod asks, “Which one were you being held at?”
Pointing to it “That one there,” Victoria mentions, “The Missionary.”
Glancing about “Perhaps,” Heath mentions, “Maybe he’s still inside.”
“I seriously doubt that,” Victoria says.
“So do I,” Jarrod replies and then looking at his watch says, “Look at the time.”
“It’s after 5,” Ray announces.
“Damn!” Nick says.
“Nick,” Victoria asks concerned, “What’s the matter?”
“The men,” Nick says, “Have been sent out in search of you and to deliver the ransom. They were supposed to head out at 5.”
“The men” Victoria asks, perplexed.
“We had some of the men come out here,” Nick mentions.
“What we going to do?” Heath says.
“What can we do,” Nick replies, “There isn’t much we could do at this point? They are probably long gone by now.”
“And we need to be getting Jim to a doctor,” Jarrod mentions.
Nick brings up, “The best we could do right now is intercept any of them we should see along the way and have them assist with rounding up the others. The others we’ll just have to rely on them following their instructions they were given of stopping every 3 hours and returning.”
“What about Johnny and Jim?” Heath asks, “They don’t have the same instructions and the one here missing is still not accounted for.”
“Well they,” Nick says, “We have to see about reaching.”
“Not to mention,” Ray joins in with, “We need to bring the governor out here so he could see what took place here.”
“No question about it,” Bill says.
“Agreed,” Jarrod replies.
“What’s the governor going to do?” Nick asks.
“Not sure,” Jarrod mentions, “But right now he does need to see what took place here.”
“How are we going to get the governor, intercept the men, find Johnny and Jim and take Jim to the doctor?” Heath wanted to know.
“I know we can’t very well be in all these places at the same time Heath” Jarrod mentions “And I know we’re short on time, but how about if we split up. Mother” glancing over at her “You take the boys back to the house while Nick and I go see the governor.”
Glancing at each of the boys, “I think that might be best,” Victoria states, “It is late and we do need to be getting back.” Turning to the men, “How about if you come back with us?” she asks.
“Us?” Ferdinand asks.
“All of us?” Vernon wanted to know.
“Yes,” Victoria says, “All of you.”
“Mother,” Nick intercepts, “Do you think that’s wise? Who are they?”
“Nick,” Victoria says, “I’ll explain it to you later. It’s late and we do need to be going,” watching as Nick studies each of them quizzically standing besides her, “Trust me they are okay.”
Exhaling heavily, “I trust you,” Nick mentions, “And for right now, okay.”
Squeezing his left forearm, “I assure you Nick,” Victoria says, “Everything is fine.”
“If we get the governor out here,” Jarrod mentions, “He may want to talk with the five of you about what took place.”
“We’ll be glad to tell him anything,” Ferdinand states, “He wants to know and as much as we could tell him.”
“We have a lot to say,” Terry mentions.
“Something tells me you do,” Jarrod says.
“Oh,” Victoria notes, “They do. But,” glancing back at them, “In the meantime, you could come back with us, have a goodnight sleep…”
“Mother,” Gene joins in, “I hate to get technical but it’s really not a good night sleep.”
Smiling, “How about a good morning sleep then,” she reiterates, “A nice hot breakfast and then we could go and see where we go from there.”
“It does,” Paul answers, “Sounds like a welcoming invitation.”
“It is,” Jarrod informs them, “We may be a little tight on accommodations but for right now, it’s much better than not having any place to go.”
“You could use the log cabin,” Ray offers.
“That may not be such a bad idea” Jarrod says “But we may be short on beds at the moment.”
“We’ll think of something,” Victoria notes.
“Not to mention,” Ray mentions, “You will be sharing it with 20 other men at the moment.”
“Hey” Paul mentions “With us having just a plain old hard cellar of a floor” with Vernon joining in “Or one mattress and no bedding, any place is better than where we were at the moment.”
“Then it’s settled,” Victoria says.
“Heath,” Nick suggests, “Are you up to traveling?”
“I am,” Heath answers.
“Bill,” Nick then says, “What about you?”
“I am too,” Bill mentions.
“Okay,” Nick says, “How about if the two of you go along and once they are all safely back at the house, go and see if you could track down Johnny and Jim?”
“Very well,” Heath answers with Bill saying, “I could do that.”
“Ray,” Jarrod suggests, “Would you mind taking Jim to see the doctor while Nick and I go see the governor?”
“No problem,” Ray answers.
“How are we going to get there?” Billy asks, “We didn’t come here on horses.”
“Yes,” Ray replies, “We know.”
“We could always walk back,” Todd suggests, “That is the way we came here.”
“No,” Jarrod says, “You’ll ride back.”
“How” Todd asks.
“Seeing we don’t have enough horses for everyone,” Jarrod suggests, “We’ll have to improvise.”
“Improvise?” Neil says.
“Yes,” Jarrod answers.
“How we suppose to do that?” Neil asks.
“I’m getting to that,” Jarrod replies.
Just then hearing the sound of horses approaching “Listen” Terry announces.
“Horses,” comes from Billy.
“They’re coming this way,” Neil mentions.
“Get ready,” Nick urges as he and the others have their guns aimed.
As they shift their positions and face the direction they are coming in and as they get closer, “Hey look,” Gene mentions, “Its Oscar and Austin.”
As they come down the back alley way of Mission and upon catching sight of the entire scenery before them, “Hey,” Oscar asks, “What hit this place?”
Placing his gun back in his holster “We’ll tell you about it later” Nick says.
“We heard the noise,” Austin notes, “As we headed this direction.”
“Glad you did,” Nick says.
“We would’ve came by sooner,” Oscar states, “Had we known.”
“You’re here now,” Nick notes, “That’s all that counts.”
Just then seeing Victoria standing there, “Mrs. Barkley,” Austin says, “You’ve been found.”
“I have yes,” Victoria replies.
“It’s good to see you,” Austin mentions.
“Thank you,” Victoria replies.
“I know the two of you,” Nick says, “Probably have a lot of questions on your mind but let me cut this rather short and tell you that we don’t have time to be going into any of the details right now and we would like to borrow the horses you have there.”
“You need our horses?” Oscar asks.
“Yes,” Nick replies, “For the time being.”
Dismounting, “Sure,” they both reply.
“Are you going to have us,” Gene asks, “Ride the two horses?”
“I am,” Nick replies, “But we also have horses out front as well.”
“You have enough for all of us?” Gene wanted to know.
“I didn’t say that,” Nick answers, “But with the two here and the ones out front make seven.”
“But there’s thirteen of us,” Gene answers.
“I’m aware of that too,” Nick says, “But seeing we are strapped for time you could double up and right now you do need to be getting back.”
“What are you going to use?” Gene wanted to know.
“We’ll borrow horses,” Jarrod mentions, “From the nearby livery. You do as Nick says and head back while Jim gets to a doctor and we get the governor.”
“I will say,” Bill mentions, “It will beat walking.”
“Come on,” Jarrod urges.
tbc
Just then hearing what appears to be some men talking loudly taking place from the back of the Wards’ House the boys cautiously move towards it to see what it’s all about.
Listening to it they hear, “Could we be of some assist Vic?” from one man.
“Not unless you want to assist us with why we’re here,” comes from the second man.
“And what reason would that be?” the first voice asks.
“Step aside,” the second voice says, “You know why we’re here. We want to see your boss, Mr. White. Get him!”
“We’re sorry,” the first voice replies, “But I’m afraid he’s not seeing any visitors tonight. I suggest you all go home.”
As the boys reach the back entrance, “It’s coming from inside here,” Todd announces.
“We hear it,” Neil mentions.
“We don’t care” comes from a third voice “What time of the night it is” raising his voice “Now we want to see your boss and WE WANT TO SEE HIM RIGHT NOW!”
Listening and glancing about “Maybe” Billy suggests “If we climb up here” referring to the railing of the porch “We could get a better idea of what is going on.”
“Let’s,” Todd insists as he, Neil and Billy reach up and carefully climb the top of the railing and take a peek inside the window overseeing them.
Without making a sound they continue to listen and observe what is taking place inside and upon looking in they catch sight of 2 men in front of a door with their arms folded in front of them facing them and 2 men standing directly across from them to which they hear “Ben, Vic, please” the first voice says “Don’t make it more difficult on yourselves. It’s late, why don’t you all go home and get a goodnight sleep?” who happens to be a man who has dark hair, curly and is somewhat of a solid build.
“We don’t want a goodnight sleep,” the second voice replies, “We want to see your boss and we’re not going anywhere until we do!”
Ben the 3rd voice says, “Look!” to who happens to be a man in his middle 40’s, brownish hair and slightly shorter than the two men, “We’ve worked for five weeks and he’s never paid us. We need that money and we’re not going anywhere until we do.”
“We’re not going home” the man Vic, which happens to be the man in the middle who happens to be middle aged and has salt-pepper hair and is about 2 inches shorter than the men gathered replies “We’ve come here” grabbing hold of Curly by the collar of his shirt “To see Mr. White. He owes us 200 big ones and we are not leaving here until we’ve seen him. Now do as we said” tightening his grip on the shirt “And get out of our way” quickly yanking at him and moving him out of the way.
As the man to Curly’s left moves in to reach for Vic, Ben jumps in and is about to grab for him which in turn is grabbed by the 2nd man on the other side of that one and as he quickly swings his arm out of his grasp he begins punching both of them.
“Hey look,” Neil announces, “A fight is breaking out.”
“Kyle, Gene,” Billy quietly calls out “Come and see the fight breaking out.”
Quickly coming to join them they climb up and look on and watch as the fight continues. Peering in they see one man fighting two men, one man rolling around with another and the one in the middle grabbing hold of the door knob with another on the ground inches away.
“What’s going on?” Gene asks, “Could you tell?”
“Not really,” Todd answers.
“It seems,” Billy says, “They are fighting over money being owed that the other doesn’t want to give to them.”
Looking on they see the fight continuing and watch as a man who has blondish color hair parted on the side asking, “What’s going on out here?” as the door is opened and is standing before Vic.
“We came for our money,” Vic answers.
“Oh?” Mr. White says, “What money would that be?”
“Don’t play smart with us,” Vic replies, “You know exactly what it is.”
“I’m afraid I am at a lost here,” Mr. White says, “Maybe you could refresh my memory.”
“Two-hundred,” Vic tells him, “You kept saying you will pay us and never did. Now we want that money and we are not leaving here until we get it.”
“Okay, okay” Mr. White says “Let me get it for you” keeping his full attention on Vic with the palms of his hands showing and carefully moving backwards “There’s no need to be getting hostile over this.”
“Then get us what we asked for,” Vic replies, “What you owe us and we will leave here.”
Still carefully backing up Mr. White reaches into a top drawer of a desk and as he produces a gun he quickly aims it at Vic, “Now Vic,” he says, “I think you better think again. You better get out of here while you still can. Our business with you has come to an end. We don’t want you back here again. That goes for your cohorts as well, take them with you.”
“I am not going anywhere,” Vic reminds him and quickly reaches for the gun.
As he is grabbing for the gun Mr. White keeps his full hold onto it and as Vic grasps the gun handle the two of them fall to the floor with the gun rolling out of their hands as Vic tries to grab for it Mr. White being a little faster snatches it and as Vic makes another attempt to grab for it they both struggle with it resulting in a shot discharging from it in mid air.
“What was that?” Billy asks.
“Sounds like a shot,” Gene answers, “Went off.”
“It did,” Todd says, “That man has a gun,” looking on and catching sight of the gun in Mr. White’s hands.
As they continue watching the altercation between the two men another sound catches their attention and are startled and jump at the sound of the two men who continue fighting and not paying attention to what they are moving past continue tossing things they see around them at the other and as they come out of the door one of them runs the other into a stack of barrels next to the side of the building.
From across the street awakening from the sound of the barrels falling down, “What’s going on?” Victoria asks and upon seeing Terry still working on the window, “Terry, you’re still working on that?”
“I got it out,” Terry informs her, “I am now working on the window.”
“What’s all that noise?” Dean asks.
“A fight,” Terry replies, “Across the street.”
“We need to get out of here,” Kyle mentions.
Then as the second shot goes off it shoots Vic in the chest and as he collapses he bounces off a chair to his left and rolls onto the floor onto his stomach.
Doing a double-take “He shot him” Neil says “He shot that man.”
As Mr. White is still holding the gun he is frozen in his tracks as he looks down at the man lying in a pool of blood.
“I think he’s killed him,” Todd says.
“We better make tracks,” Kyle suggests, “Billy, Gene get going quickly!”
And with that Gene followed by Kyle jump down off the railing.
“Sorry, Mr. White,” Curly informs him, “But he got past us.”
“Dispose of him,” Mr. White orders, “Quickly! Take him out the back way.”
As one of the men assist Curly they both pick up the body of Vic and start heading for the back door.
“Mr. White,” another man asks, “What about this one?” referring to the third man that was with them.
“Is he?” Mr. White asks.
“No,” the man answers, “He’s alive,” feeling the side of his neck for a pulse.
“Put him with the others,” Mr. White answers.
While two of his men do as told the other boys Billy and Todd jump down and start to run. Just then as the other two men come out of the building with the dead body of Vic; Neil, who is last loses his footing and falls backwards dropping his gun behind him, “Hey Mr. White,” Curly calls out, “Look!”
Stopping in his tracks “Neil,” Billy then says, “Come on,” and as he is about to get on his feet, “What have we here?” he hears, “I’ll take that” and watches as he snatches it up.
Glancing up at the voice they catch sight of the end of a rifle looking down at them, “Ma,” they hear, “Hey Ma, look what we have here, there’s two of them.”
Mr. White coming out the door asks, “What?” of Curly.
“What do you want us to do with that one?” Curly inquires, referring to Ben, who is now on the ground unconscious.
Calling to two men behind him “Glassman,” Mr. White says, “You and Forrest take him and place him downstairs with the others. Quickly! Quickly!” snapping his fingers.
Doing as instructed Glassman and Forrest move towards the unconscious man and lifting him up they carry him back inside.
As Gene and Kyle are running, “Not so fast,” they first hear a voice followed by a man standing there holding a rifle on them both resulting in them stopping in their tracks, “Ma,” the voice calls out, “I have two here.”
“Two and two make four” Ma states “And one makes five” holding a rifle on Todd who also has stopped frozen in his tracks as he looks at Ma with the gun aimed at him.
“You,” glancing over at Kyle, “Drop it,” the woman tells him and as he is staring at the woman and pondering his thoughts, “Do as she says,” comes from Lance holding the gun on him; Kyle quickly does as told and drops the rifle onto the ground.
“You,” Ames tells Neil, “On your feet,” who quickly complies.
“Now,” she says, “The two of you back up and move alongside of these two,” glancing over at Todd, “And you,” she tells him, “Do the same.”
Quickly following their orders, Kyle, Gene and Todd move alongside of Neil and Billy standing there.
“Put your hands up in the air” Ma barks at them “Where I could see them” to which they immediately comply “And don’t move.”
With the guns kept aimed at them from Ames and Lance on each side Ma moves up from in front of them and says, “What do we have here?” then glancing over at Mr. White who is coming over to her, “Good evening Mr. White,” she says.
“Good evening Belle,” he acknowledges, “Who are they?”
“Not sure yet,” she says, “But they’ve been snooping and spying on you, isn’t that right young man?” she asks looking over at Kyle.
As he doesn’t speak, “I asked you a question young man,” she says, “What were you doing here?”
Swallowing hard, “Nothing,” he answers, “We just came down this way for a walk and we heard the noise coming from here, and just wanted to see what it was all about.”
“You were snooping young man,” she barks, “Prying into something that is none of your affair.”
“Mr. White,” one of his men says, “They saw everything.”
“Ma,” Lance says, “Look at what they have here,” as he goes to each one of them he quickly snatches the guns away from Gene, Todd and Billy as well as the ammunition they each have on them.
As Lance walks in front of the boys Kyle and Gene upon taking a second look at him both gawk and as they make eye contact they both exchange similar thoughts.
“Where would boys such as you,” Ma asks, “Get things like this?” as they don’t answer, “I asked you a question boys, where would you be getting things like this? Did your fathers give them to you?”
Thinking and quickly answering, “No,” Billy being the first to respond replies.
“Please Ma’am” Gene cries “We didn’t mean no harm.”
“We won’t tell anyone,” Billy says, “What we saw.”
“And you expect me to believe that?” she asks, “The moment you go out of here, you’ll blab away.”
“No, we won’t,” Neil says.
“I asked you again boys,” Ma says, “What are you doing out this way?” as they remain silent, “Aren’t you somebody’s children?”
Swallowing hard, “We are,” Gene answers.
From the cellar’s missionary, “Hey look,” Robert calls out.
“What is it?” Victoria asks.
“A couple of boys,” Robert answers.
“Let me see,” Victoria says, and as she strains herself to get a better look, “Could one of you lift me up a bit?”
“Sure,” comes from both Dean and Robert nearest the window.
As she looks on, “Oh my god,” she calls out, “Terry, could you get this window opened?”
As he continues exerting all his strength on it “Just about,” Terry replies.
“Hurry, hurry,” she tells him.
“You know them,” Dean asks.
“One of them is my son,” she announces and watches as Kyle and Gene are both standing there with Lance and Ma Belle holding a gun on them.
As both Jarrod and Nick are coming down the street of Fremont they overhear some of the noise coming from down Mission.
“Nick,” Jarrod calls out, “Listen!”
“I hear it,” Nick replies, “Come on!” and quickly bringing their horses to a complete stop they dismount and split up around the building.
“Then,” Ma says looking directly at him, “I suggest you start flapping your gums and tell us what you’re doing out this way? You didn’t just come down here for a walk,” she notes, “You had something in mind if you had these guns with you.”
Being the first to respond to Ma’s question, “We came looking for someone,” Todd mentions.
“Oh?” Ma asks.
Over near the side of the missionary between the building and a bush Heath is crouched down and carefully sizing up the situation. Slowly glancing to his left, he catches sight of Mr. White, as well as another man standing a couple feet away from Ma Belle, to his right he sees Lance and Ames both with rifles drawn and surrounding the five boys who have their hands in the air and then looking to his far left he notices a body of a man being draped over the side of a horse, so from what he could see thus far there were six men and one woman to contend with.
Thinking of his best course of action with his left arm in a sling he takes the gun he has in his right hand and places it in his left, he then removes his little brown pouch he has in his left shirt pocket followed by a small rock he has inside it.
As he is getting a good grip on it he doesn’t see or hear anything other than the men and the woman keeping their guns aimed at the boys to which are all standing nervously side by side. He also doesn’t notice the hand that is moving up behind him.
Part 406
Just then, the hand very slowly and very carefully is placed over his mouth and before he could react he hears, “Sh!” and then as he quickly shifts his gaze over at who the hand belongs to he finds that it belongs to Nick who is now right alongside of him. As they both make contact Nick quickly removes his hand and Heath says in a very low voice, “Nick!”
“I see it,” Nick replies softly.
“Nick,” Heath then says.
“What?” Nick asks.
“Look at that one there,” Heath points to the one on the other side of Gene.
Looking on with a slight tilt of his head “What about him” Nick asks.
“That’s one of the ones that took Mother,” Heath mentions.
Taking a better look, “I believe you’re right,” Nick answers.
“That means,” Heath says, “She must be here someplace.”
Coming down Mission from the other direction “You hear that?” Bill asks.
“Come on,” Ray commands and with that they quickly move towards the sound they hear.
Jarrod coming around the other side of the Missionary being shielded by a bush stops and crouches just behind it and upon eying the situation could see the four men and one woman surrounding the five boys. Looking to his left he could also see a man being placed over the side of a horse by two men.
As Ma Belle continues moving back-n-forth in front of the boys, Todd being the first to speak says, “We came looking for his mother,” pointing to Gene.
Kyle blurts out, “You idiot,” quietly to Todd standing on the other side of him.
Glancing about and then studying the upper side of the building, “I’m,” Nick informs Heath, “Going up top and see what I could do from there.”
“Go ahead,” Heath tells him.
Nick then says, “Be ready for anything.”
“I am,” Heath announces as he reaches in the bottom of his pant leg and pulls out his knife while at the same time watching Nick who is making his move and starts climbing the side of the building.
Reaching the Parker House, Bill, Ray and Jim Jr. dismount and slowly proceed on foot towards the back alley way following the sound of the voices.
As they get in closer, “My god,” Ray says.
“Let’s not go losing our heads,” Jim Jr. recommends.
Studying the situation and pondering their best course of action “Stay here” Bill says as he glances at the rooftop of the Wards’ House.
“Where you going?” Jim Jr asks.
“Keep a watch on them” Bill quietly tells him “I’m going to try to get up there, when I do be ready,” and as Jim Jr nods Bill begins moving towards a lower section of the rooftop and climbs up.
Just then without warning as each of them from their carefully hidden spots are preparing to make their move they watch and listen as Ma asks “Is that right”
glancing over at Gene “You came here looking for your mother?”
“Yes Ma’am,” Gene answers.
Ma asks “And were you planning on using these,” referring to the confiscated weapons.
“Only for protection,” Neil swallowing hard says.
“Protection,” Ma asks, “Against what?” glancing over at Neil, “Us?”
Shaking his head, “No,” Neil answers.
“And I was born yesterday,” she snickers, “What I think you boys need is a lesson to be taught not to ever come sneaking down this way again.”
“I quite agree,” Mr. White answers.
“What you think Mr. White,” Ma then asks of Mr. White “Do you think we should show them what happens when they try prying into others affairs that don’t concern them?”
“Most definitely,” Mr. White states.
“Do you want the honors,” Belle asks.
“I think that will be best,” he says as he pulls a knife from out of his belt, “We’ll do this one at a time as quickly and painlessly as possible,” each of the boys’ eyes widen in horror as they stare at the blade being pulled out of its sheath, “This will also cause less attention as well.”
“Alright,” as she walks back and forth “Which one should we do first” she asks as she holds the rifle on them and goes from one to the other with each one standing there nervously, not knowing what to do.
“You’re going to kill us?” Billy asks.
Being the first to react, “Please, Ma’am,” Todd pleads, “Let us go.”
“Let you go?” Ma says, “You’re not going anywhere,” she snaps at Todd.
“You’re a lady,” Neil brings up.
“That’s right young man,” Ma tells him.
“I thought ladies,” Neil says, “Didn’t do things like that. You’re supposed to be a mother.”
“I am a mother sonny,” Ma informs him.
“That’s right boy” with a wicked drooling-laugh and grin “She’s our Ma” Ames says to Neil.
“How is going to kill us,” Billy asks, “Going to teach us a lesson?”
Sniffling “We won’t tell anyone,” Todd mumbles.
“That’s right” Ma then says “And you should’ve thought of that before coming down here.”
Holding the hilt in his right hand, “You,” pointing to Todd, Mr. White barks, “Come here.”
“Me?” Todd pointing to himself asks.
“Yes you,” Ma says, “Now get moving.”
From atop the roof as Nick is now into position from atop of the Missionary’s rooftop and glancing about makes eye contact with Bill who is doing the same thing atop of the Wards’ House roof. After making contact and nodding to the other they catch sight of the others down below on each side of the buildings.
Crying and starting to shudder Todd yells, “No!” resisting, “Please, no!”
“Go to him” Ma barks.
Not budging “Please,” Todd says.
Holding the rifle, “NOW!” Ma tells Todd, “If you don’t, we’ll start shooting” holding it on Gene, “Beginning with this one.”
Still sniffling and sobbing uncontrollably Todd slowly moves towards Mr. White.
“I got it,” Terry announces as he pops the window outward.
“Hurry,” Victoria orders, “Hurry,” and as Robert and Dean lift Victoria up she begins crawling through the opened window and carefully moves for the rifle she sees on the ground and quickly snatches it up. Aiming it at Belle she commands, “Don’t move!”
Nick quickly joins in at the same time barking “Heath, NOW!” and as Heath brings up his rifle he immediately takes aims and shoots Mr. White in the chest followed by Nick who takes out the man right behind him.
As the bullet makes contact and he is releasing the knife from his grasp, “Gene,” Nick commands with Ray barking simultaneously “Billy, Todd, get down!” and with out hesitation doing as told each of the boys quickly drop to the dirt.
“Get away from my son,” Victoria hisses to Belle.
Lifting his head up, “Mother,” Gene blurts out and watches as Belle immediately spins around and as she is about to face her foe, “Well now,” she says with her rifle aimed, “What do we have here,” she is quickly met by a bullet from Victoria’s gun.
As Jarrod and Bill both enter the conflict Jarrod takes out Lance with Bill aiming at Ames. Joining in, Ray shoots at one of the two men who come emerging from behind the Wards’ Building’s back entrance, while Jim Jr. rams the rifle butt into the second man coming out.
In between Robert, Ferdinand, Dean, Paul, Vernon and Terry each work together in helping the other climb out of the cellar and onto the open road with Terry being the last to be pulled up and out.
As the fight continues more men come pouring out of The Parker House Saloon as well as the Wards’ House who happen to be nearby and join in.
As one man, shouldering a rifle emerges from the cover of the back entrance of the Parkers’ House Saloon, “Look out,” Robert yells to Victoria and quickly leaps up and onto her blocking her from the man who is about to take aim at her.
Jim Jr. who just appears aims and lets the man have one in the head.
Upon shielding Mrs. Barkley, they didn’t notice the bullet making contact with his back and as he asks of her, “You alright?” she answers, “Yes, I’m fine, thank you,” who in turn asks, “Are you?”
As he is now feeling the impact of it penetrating “I’m not sure” and without saying another word sputters once and then drops to the ground.
“Robert,” she calls out, “Robert,” glancing about, “Someone help him.”
Looking at the still man and checking his heart “Aunt Victoria” Jim Jr says “There isn’t much more we could do for him.”
“He’s dead?” she asks with tears forming. Nodding his head, “Afraid so,” Jim Jr answers.
“Oh, my god,” sniffling, “Oh Robert,” she cries.
Just then as slugs from various guns begin hitting the ground “We need to get you away from here” Jim tells her. Meanwhile the boys who are also lying flat are nervously trembling with their hands over their heads as flying dirt comes their way.
Kyle tells them, “We need to get to safety. Follow me, but stay low, quickly!” and upon staying very low to the ground they follow Kyle who quickly grabs hold of one of the rifles he sees on the ground and leads them all behind the safety of the Parker’s House.
As the fighting resumes, each one of them watching it continue, breathe in a sigh of relief as they lean against the side of the building with Todd being the only one who is still sobbing uncontrollably.
Placing his hand on his shoulder “It’s alright Todd” Billy compassionately tells him.
Catching sight of more men emerging from two directions, Dean grabbing one of the guns he sees on the ground snaps a shot off at the first man directly ahead of him; who goes down with his hands over his face, shrieking and thrashing.
Next to enter the conflict, the blast of Heath’s rifle, followed by Bill and then Ray simultaneously aim and shoot at three men coming out of the building, who are firing as they run.
Jim, who is trying to lead Victoria to safety between the Parker House and Missionary, catches sight of one man who is still firing. Just then as something rips through his left shoulder, he staggers and drops to his knees. Jarrod who suddenly appears; leans over and keeps both him and Victoria shielded as he aims at the charging man.
Watching as the man stumbles and falls, Victoria calls out to Jim who in turn replies, “Aunt Victoria,” and Jarrod insisting, “Let’s get you out of here,” as he is escorting them both to safety behind the Missionary.
As Victoria is coming towards them, “Mother,” Gene cries out.
“Oh, Gene,” Victoria replies as she quickly sweeps him into her arms and gives him a tight embrace.
Sniffling and clinging onto her “I was so scared,” Gene tells her.
“Oh Gene” she says “It’s alright now. You’re safe” she then asks “Gene; could I ask what are you doing here?”
“I came here looking for you,” Gene explains, “I was so scared for you.”
“It’s alright now” Victoria says “And we’ll talk more in a little bit” and then turning to Jim Jr “Jim what about you, are you alright?” she wanted to know noticing the blood oozing from his shoulder.
“You’re bleeding,” Gene mentions.
“I’m alright,” Jim assures her as the conflict continues and Jarrod says, “Stay here,” as he quickly goes back out to assist in the fight.
“Todd” Victoria calls out “Come here” and as he quickly goes to her he continues crying “They were going to kill me” he keeps repeating as she is holding him in her arms saying “It’s all over with, shh, you’re safe Todd, no one’s going to hurt you” as she continues soothing him “Sh” she keeps repeating “No one’s going to hurt you, it’s alright, you’re safe” while embracing him tightly and rocking him back-n-forth.
Once he begins to calm down and relax Victoria calls to Neil who in turn goes to her and taking him into her arms she begins soothing him followed by Billy. Kyle meanwhile, continues keeping an eye on the situation while the fighting goes on.
From inside the Parker House Saloon
“What was that?” Jack asks of one of the men who are over near the bar.
“A fight broke out,” First man informs him.
As it continues, Dean, Vernon, Ferdinand, Paul and Terry each help as they pick up the guns they catch sight of on the ground and as the men continue to come out and charge at them, they are each met with a similar fate as bullets penetrate their bodies resulting in them landing on their stomachs.
Jarrod and Heath in turn follow suit and take on two more men that come out from the Wards’ House each one who also is met by various slugs that penetrate their bodies.
As two more men bring their guns up, they come to find out they wind up in a vicious cross fire when Nick and Bill suddenly quickly pierce their bodies from bullets from their rifles and as they drop to the ground they manage to gasp and wheeze in one last attempt before their bodies turn still completely.
After reaching Pacific Avenue and managing to borrow a pair of horses Oscar and Austin reach the corner of Montgomery and Market to where they hear the sound of gunshots, “Austin,” Oscar announces, “You hear that?”
“I do” Austin replies “Come on,” and picking up speed head down Market.
As one more man is aiming his gun at Terry, “Terry, watch out,” Victoria calls out and as he is about to turn both Ray and Kyle, quickly and carefully take aim and manage to let out one shot each which happens to find its way into the charging man’s chest who drops his gun and then collapses to the ground.
Just then the firing seems to have suddenly come to a stop.
“Is that it?” Ray wanted to know.
“Think so,” Jarrod replies.
Calling out, “Mother,” Jarrod looks over to the Missionary and watches as she emerges, “Is it all over with?” she wanted to know.
Nodding his head, “Pretty much,” Jarrod informs her as he points to the bodies lying on the ground.
Part 407
As she quickly comes over to him he quickly takes her into his arms followed by Nick and then Heath who each take turns hugging and kissing her who in turn reciprocates.
“Billy,” Ray calls out who in turn goes quickly into his father’s arms, “Pa,” happily seeing him, “Oh Pa,” Billy continues, “They were about to kill us,” as he is still sniffling and trembling slightly.
“Yes, I know,” Ray then asks, “Could you tell me what happened here?”
“Don’t know all of it,” Billy answers, “We heard the noise and came down this way and as we started to look we heard yelling about money being owed, then they started fighting and then after that man there,” pointing to Mr. White now dead on the ground, “Shot the man there,” referring to the dead body over the side of the horse, “We started running and the next we knew we were being surrounded and then they were going to kill us,” still shaking, “All we came down this way for was to help Gene find his mother.”
“I know,” Ray answers.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” Billy informs him.
“It’s alright Billy,” Ray tells him, “It’s all over with and everything is going to be alright.”
“I know you’re upset with me,” Billy mentions.
“I am,” Ray mentions, “But I’m more relieved that you’re alright. We’ll go into it more at the house. Right now, it’s too late to go into anything” then glancing over at the other boys, “How you boys doing?”
As they are each beginning to calm down, “Much better now,” Todd mentions.
Placing his hand on his shoulder “Kyle” Heath says “You did well” staring at the rifle in his hand.
“Thank you,” Kyle replies.
“How is everyone?” Bill asks concerned.
“We’re all alive,” Jim Jr announces.
Turning to Jim Jr, “Jim,” Jarrod then asks, “How bad are you hit?”
“I’ll live,” Jim Jr mentions, “It’s nothing more than a,” glancing over at Heath, “Scratch,” as he answers.
Taking a closer look at it “It’s more than a scratch Jim” Jarrod states.
“We do need to get you to see a doctor,” Victoria informs him.
“And we will,” Jarrod says.
Just then hearing, “Mrs. Barkley,” she turns to see Terry, followed by Dean, Ferdinand, Paul and Vernon standing there.
“How you fellas doing?” she wanted to know.
“Much better now,” Paul answers, “Thanks to you.”
“No,” she says, “Thanks to Terry.”
“I can’t believe” Vernon replies “We are now finally free, at least for the moment.”
“Sorry about Robert,” Dean goes on to say.
Nodding her head with tears in her eyes, “So am I,” Victoria replies, “He didn’t deserve this,” as she looks down at his body lying there.
“Mother,” Jarrod asks, “You alright?”
“Nodding her head, “I am,” Victoria assures him, “Or should I say I will be.”
As she observes him glancing at the men gathered around her, “I know we all have a lot of questions to ask,” she brings up.
“That’s an understatement,” he quips.
“How about if we wait until we’re all safely back at the house” she urges “I want to get the boys home?”
“Agreed,” Jarrod then says as he begins really taking a hard look at the scene before them with cousin Jim standing beside him with a bullet in his shoulder, all the dead bodies scattered, the boys caught in the middle of what just took place and his mother who they came to find is now freed after being held hostage for the past four days, “Besides, we still have a lot of work left to do.”
“Yes, we do,” Victoria overhearing remarks.
“Pa,” Billy says.
“Yes Billy?” Ray replies.
“Coming down this way,” Billy mentions, “We saw men sleeping on the floor in the cellar of one of the nearby establishments we went past.”
“There’s a lot of that Billy,” Ray says.
“Kyle mentioned,” Billy brings up, “Something about crimping and turning the men over to ships for money.”
“That is what they do with them,” Ray mentions, “When they are captured.”
“Isn’t there something we could do?” Billy asks.
“We are working on it Billy,” Ray answers, “That is what Mr. Barkley and his family came here to do.”
As Victoria is looking down at the rest of the dead bodies scattered, “They’re not all accounted for.”
“What do you mean?” Jarrod asks.
“There’s one missing,” Victoria says, “There were four who was responsible for holding me, there should be one more of them.”
Scanning the area, “I wonder where he’s hiding,” Jim Jr says.
“Mother,” Jarrod asks, “Which one were you being held at?”
Pointing to it “That one there,” Victoria mentions, “The Missionary.”
Glancing about “Perhaps,” Heath mentions, “Maybe he’s still inside.”
“I seriously doubt that,” Victoria says.
“So do I,” Jarrod replies and then looking at his watch says, “Look at the time.”
“It’s after 5,” Ray announces.
“Damn!” Nick says.
“Nick,” Victoria asks concerned, “What’s the matter?”
“The men,” Nick says, “Have been sent out in search of you and to deliver the ransom. They were supposed to head out at 5.”
“The men” Victoria asks, perplexed.
“We had some of the men come out here,” Nick mentions.
“What we going to do?” Heath says.
“What can we do,” Nick replies, “There isn’t much we could do at this point? They are probably long gone by now.”
“And we need to be getting Jim to a doctor,” Jarrod mentions.
Nick brings up, “The best we could do right now is intercept any of them we should see along the way and have them assist with rounding up the others. The others we’ll just have to rely on them following their instructions they were given of stopping every 3 hours and returning.”
“What about Johnny and Jim?” Heath asks, “They don’t have the same instructions and the one here missing is still not accounted for.”
“Well they,” Nick says, “We have to see about reaching.”
“Not to mention,” Ray joins in with, “We need to bring the governor out here so he could see what took place here.”
“No question about it,” Bill says.
“Agreed,” Jarrod replies.
“What’s the governor going to do?” Nick asks.
“Not sure,” Jarrod mentions, “But right now he does need to see what took place here.”
“How are we going to get the governor, intercept the men, find Johnny and Jim and take Jim to the doctor?” Heath wanted to know.
“I know we can’t very well be in all these places at the same time Heath” Jarrod mentions “And I know we’re short on time, but how about if we split up. Mother” glancing over at her “You take the boys back to the house while Nick and I go see the governor.”
Glancing at each of the boys, “I think that might be best,” Victoria states, “It is late and we do need to be getting back.” Turning to the men, “How about if you come back with us?” she asks.
“Us?” Ferdinand asks.
“All of us?” Vernon wanted to know.
“Yes,” Victoria says, “All of you.”
“Mother,” Nick intercepts, “Do you think that’s wise? Who are they?”
“Nick,” Victoria says, “I’ll explain it to you later. It’s late and we do need to be going,” watching as Nick studies each of them quizzically standing besides her, “Trust me they are okay.”
Exhaling heavily, “I trust you,” Nick mentions, “And for right now, okay.”
Squeezing his left forearm, “I assure you Nick,” Victoria says, “Everything is fine.”
“If we get the governor out here,” Jarrod mentions, “He may want to talk with the five of you about what took place.”
“We’ll be glad to tell him anything,” Ferdinand states, “He wants to know and as much as we could tell him.”
“We have a lot to say,” Terry mentions.
“Something tells me you do,” Jarrod says.
“Oh,” Victoria notes, “They do. But,” glancing back at them, “In the meantime, you could come back with us, have a goodnight sleep…”
“Mother,” Gene joins in, “I hate to get technical but it’s really not a good night sleep.”
Smiling, “How about a good morning sleep then,” she reiterates, “A nice hot breakfast and then we could go and see where we go from there.”
“It does,” Paul answers, “Sounds like a welcoming invitation.”
“It is,” Jarrod informs them, “We may be a little tight on accommodations but for right now, it’s much better than not having any place to go.”
“You could use the log cabin,” Ray offers.
“That may not be such a bad idea” Jarrod says “But we may be short on beds at the moment.”
“We’ll think of something,” Victoria notes.
“Not to mention,” Ray mentions, “You will be sharing it with 20 other men at the moment.”
“Hey” Paul mentions “With us having just a plain old hard cellar of a floor” with Vernon joining in “Or one mattress and no bedding, any place is better than where we were at the moment.”
“Then it’s settled,” Victoria says.
“Heath,” Nick suggests, “Are you up to traveling?”
“I am,” Heath answers.
“Bill,” Nick then says, “What about you?”
“I am too,” Bill mentions.
“Okay,” Nick says, “How about if the two of you go along and once they are all safely back at the house, go and see if you could track down Johnny and Jim?”
“Very well,” Heath answers with Bill saying, “I could do that.”
“Ray,” Jarrod suggests, “Would you mind taking Jim to see the doctor while Nick and I go see the governor?”
“No problem,” Ray answers.
“How are we going to get there?” Billy asks, “We didn’t come here on horses.”
“Yes,” Ray replies, “We know.”
“We could always walk back,” Todd suggests, “That is the way we came here.”
“No,” Jarrod says, “You’ll ride back.”
“How” Todd asks.
“Seeing we don’t have enough horses for everyone,” Jarrod suggests, “We’ll have to improvise.”
“Improvise?” Neil says.
“Yes,” Jarrod answers.
“How we suppose to do that?” Neil asks.
“I’m getting to that,” Jarrod replies.
Just then hearing the sound of horses approaching “Listen” Terry announces.
“Horses,” comes from Billy.
“They’re coming this way,” Neil mentions.
“Get ready,” Nick urges as he and the others have their guns aimed.
As they shift their positions and face the direction they are coming in and as they get closer, “Hey look,” Gene mentions, “Its Oscar and Austin.”
As they come down the back alley way of Mission and upon catching sight of the entire scenery before them, “Hey,” Oscar asks, “What hit this place?”
Placing his gun back in his holster “We’ll tell you about it later” Nick says.
“We heard the noise,” Austin notes, “As we headed this direction.”
“Glad you did,” Nick says.
“We would’ve came by sooner,” Oscar states, “Had we known.”
“You’re here now,” Nick notes, “That’s all that counts.”
Just then seeing Victoria standing there, “Mrs. Barkley,” Austin says, “You’ve been found.”
“I have yes,” Victoria replies.
“It’s good to see you,” Austin mentions.
“Thank you,” Victoria replies.
“I know the two of you,” Nick says, “Probably have a lot of questions on your mind but let me cut this rather short and tell you that we don’t have time to be going into any of the details right now and we would like to borrow the horses you have there.”
“You need our horses?” Oscar asks.
“Yes,” Nick replies, “For the time being.”
Dismounting, “Sure,” they both reply.
“Are you going to have us,” Gene asks, “Ride the two horses?”
“I am,” Nick replies, “But we also have horses out front as well.”
“You have enough for all of us?” Gene wanted to know.
“I didn’t say that,” Nick answers, “But with the two here and the ones out front make seven.”
“But there’s thirteen of us,” Gene answers.
“I’m aware of that too,” Nick says, “But seeing we are strapped for time you could double up and right now you do need to be getting back.”
“What are you going to use?” Gene wanted to know.
“We’ll borrow horses,” Jarrod mentions, “From the nearby livery. You do as Nick says and head back while Jim gets to a doctor and we get the governor.”
“I will say,” Bill mentions, “It will beat walking.”
“Come on,” Jarrod urges.
tbc
